Kurt
Kurt listened to the priest enter with the alterboys escorting him, hidden up the back in his long coat and gloves. No hat, it was disrespectful to God, but he made as much an effort at hiding himself as he could. No one had glanced at the quiet stranger in the corner.
The priest reached the alter and turned to face his congregation. Even if this was in English and not in German, Kurt felt the familair phrases wash over him, cleansing his faith and his soul.
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Kurt made the sign of the cross with the other members of the congregation.
"Amen," a declaration of faith echoing from the lips of everyone in the chuch.
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all," the priest said, welcoming them all into the church.
"Und also with you," Kurt murmured the response.
"Dear friends, this water will be used to remind us of our baptism. Let us ask God to bless it, and to keep us faithful to the Spirit he has given us."
The priest blessed the water, and then the congregation.
"Lord God almighty, creator of all life, of body and soul, we ask you to bless this water: as we use it in faith forgive our sins and save us from all illness and the power of evil. Lord, in your mercy give us living water, always springing up as a fountain of salvation: free us, body and soul, from every danger, and admit us to your presence in purity of heart. Grant this through Christ our Lord."
"Amen," the response came back.
Kurt sighed softly, feeling the words sink into his soul. The priest started to move through the church, flicking the blessed water onto the members of the congregation. Kurt tensed for a moment, but though the priest's eyes widened slightly at the sight of him, blue fur, yellow eyes and pointed demonic face, he smiled and whispered a welcome. Kurt could almost have cried with relief and blessed the man's quiet gentleness and purity of spirit that he could welcome such as he.
"May almighty God cleanse us of our sins, and through the eucharist we celebrate make us worthy to sit at his table in his heavenly kingdom."
"Amen."
"Coming together as God's family, with confidence let us ask the Father's forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion," the priest spoke.
"I confess to almighty Gott,
and to you, meine brothers and sisters,
that I haf sinned through meine own fault,
in meine thoughts and in meine words,
in vhat I haf done,
and in vhat I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels und saints,
and you, meine brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord, our Gott," Kurt read from the paper in
front of him, occasionally stumbling over a word.
"May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life."
"Amen," the people murmured in response to the priest.
"Kýrie, eléison."
"Kýrie, eléison," Kurt murmured with the others.
This priest used the old words. Kurt felt more of his inner agitation slip away.
"Christe, eléison."
"Christe, eléison."
"Kýrie, eléison."
"Kýrie, eléison."
"Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our
prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen."
Kurt sang along with the Gloria quietly in his native German.
"Let us pray."
A few minutes of quiet prayer, and then the priest spoke the opening prayer over the congregation.
"Amen," the murmur rose.
"A reading from the Book of Exodus," the lector read.
"After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the base of Mount Sinai and set up camp there. Moses climbed the rugged mountain to meet with God, and from somewhere in the moutain God called to him and said: "Give these instructions to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'You have seen what I did to the Eygptians, and how I brought you here as though on eagle's wings. Now, if you will obey Me and keep your part of My contract with you, you shall be My own little flock from among all the nations of the earth; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be a kingdom of priests to God, a holy nation.'"
The lector looked up from his Bible.
"The Word of the Lord."
"Thanks be to Gott!" Kurt chorused with the rest.
The choir sang the first part of the psalm.
"Shout with joy before the Lord, O earth!
Obey Him gladly; come before him with joy!"
"The Lord is Gott! He made us; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture," Kurt sang back with the congregation.
"For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation!"
Kurt listened, finding a measure of peace for the first time in days. He was not forgotten. Gott was good.
"Alleluia!" the choir sang.
"Alleluia!" the congregation sang back.
"Alleluia!"
"Alleluia!"
"The Lord be with you," the priest said gently as he stepped back up to the pulpit.
"Und also vith you."
"A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew."
"Glory to you, Lord!"
The priest started to read the gospel for the day.
"And what pity He felt for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know what to do or where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. 'The harvest is great and the workers are so few,' He told His disciples. 'So pray to the one in charge of the harvesting, and ask Him to recruit more workers for His harvest fields."
The priest paused and sipped from a glass of water before continuing.
"Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him, and gave them authority to cast out demons and heal every kind of sickness and disease. Here are the names of the twelve disciples: Simon, also called Peter, Andrew, Peter's brother, James, Zebedee's son, John, James's brother, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James, Alpheaus's son, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. Jesus sent them out with these instructions: 'Don't go to the Gentiles or the Samaratins, but only to the people of Israel - God's lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have recieved!"
The priest looked up from his Bible.
"The Gospel of the Lord."
"Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!"
The homily followed and Kurt listened with appreciation as the priest explained the meaning of the gospel reading to his congregation.
"Ve believe in one Gott, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
Ve believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of Gott,
eternally begotten of the Father,
Gott from Gott, Light from Light, true Gott from true Gott,
begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us und for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the
Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the
Father.
He vill come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom vill have no end.
Ve believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
Ve believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
Ve acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Ve look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen," Kurt concluded with
satisfaction.
He'd hardly stumbled at all. His English was getting better. He listened to the prayers, responding with a 'Lord, hear our prayer' after each petition by the priest on behalf of his flock. The priest began the Euchrist rituals.
"Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life."
"Blessed be God for ever."
"Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink."
" Blessed be God for ever."
The organist began the music for the song as the priest prepared. Kurt listened mutely, already wondering how the congregation would react to him joining them in this holy ritual. He had been chased from churches before. He dropped his donation in the plate as it came around and closed his eyes, praying to himself.
"Pray, my brothers and sisters, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father."
"May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands,
for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good, and the good of all the Church."
The priest prayed over the offerings, quiet music in the background.
"Amen," he concluded.
"Amen."
"The Lord be with you."
"Und also vith you."
"Lift up your hearts."
"Ve lift them up to the Lord."
"Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God."
"It is right to give him thanks and praise."
"Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest," Kurt recited with the rest.
"Let us proclaim the mystery of faith," the priest said.
"Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you haf set us free. You are the Savior of the Vorld," Kurt responded with the others.
"Through him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever."
"Amen!"
"Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage to say," the priest started.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy vill be done on earth as it is in himmel.
Give us this day our daily bread;
und forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us;
und lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
"Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ."
"For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever," Kurt whispered.
Sometimes, it was so hard to remember that. God had control, not he. He had to let God have the power in his life.
"Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever."
"Amen."
"The Peace of the Lord be with you always."
"And also vith you."
"Let us offer each other a sign of peace."
Most people shook hands. The woman near Kurt turned to him and smiled softly then took his threefingered hand in her own and squeezing it gently before she turned away to greet the man on the other side of her.
"Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on
us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on
us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace."
The priest broke the bread as the congregation recited the words.
"This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper."
The congregation started to file past to recieve the Body of Christ.
"Lord, I am not vorthy to receive you, but only say the word und I shall be healed."
"The body of Christ," the priest murmured.
"Amen," Kurt whispered back as he recieved the wafer on his tongue.
"The blood of Christ."
"Amen."
Kurt moved back to his seat, one of the last to take Communion.
There was a period of silence for prayer.
"Let us pray."
The priest prayed over his congregation.
"Amen."
"The Lord be with you."
"Und also vith you."
"May almighty God bless you, The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit," the priest spoke the benediction.
"Amen."
Kurt left the church, heart once more at peace and his faith restored.